CATALOGUE OF THE DISPLAY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 

 PREHISTORIC ANTHROPOLOGY, UNITED STATES NATIONAL 

 MUSEUM. 



By THOMAS WILSON, Curator. 



The Department of Prehistoric Anthropology of the National Museum 

 was represented at the Exposicion Historico- Americana, Madrid, 1892, 

 by about 5,000 objects, selected from the department, and intended to 

 present a synopsis of aboriginal industry. The objects were exposed 

 in nineteen double slope- topped cases, which were distributed through 

 out the main hall assigned to the United States at the Exposition. The 

 objects were classified, so far as possible, in such way as to show a 

 series of implements and objects in each case or in each portion of a 

 case. General labels descriptive of the series were printed in Spanish 

 and distributed in their appropriate places. A description of the 

 objects displayed, together with the names assigned them, the material 

 used, the mode of manufacture and probable purpose, is attempted 

 to be set forth in the following pages. 



PALEOLITHIC AGE. 



The first appearance of man on earth has been assigned in Europe to the Quater 

 nary Geologic period ; in the United States to the close of the Glacial Epoch, though 

 this has been denied. 



The Paleolithic implements are the first known works of man. They have been 

 found over the world in the Quaternary deposits, associated many times with the 

 remains of extinct animals belonging to that geologic period. The different epochs 

 of human culture of the Paleolithic age have, in western and southern Europe, received 

 the designations of Cave-bear, Mammoth, Reindeer, Bison epochs, after the animals 

 which characterize them, and after the deposits, Alluvial and Cavern, and all 

 after the localities, Chelleen, Moustierian, Solutrien, Madalenien epochs. They are 

 periods represented in this display. 



ALLUVIAL PERIOD. 

 CHELLEEN EPOCH. 



Block of cemented sand and gravel from the Quaternary gravels of the river 

 Marne at Chelles, east of Paris, in which Paleolithic implements have been 

 found. Pieces of worked flint are to be seen in it, while other fragments from 

 the loose sands beneath are by its side. This station has given its name to the 

 earliest epoch of the Paleolithic age. 



Seven Chelleen implements from the Quaternary gravels of southern England. 

 Similar implements have been found on the surface. They are of the flint of the 

 country, and have been chipped to their present shape. Many of them show 

 signs of use. They are almond-shaped, thick in proportion to their width, and 

 have the cutting edge at the point. 



